Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Choosing what to say
• Part 2 of 3: Writing your speech
• Part 3 of 3: Making your speech
• Tips

Writing a goodbye speech can be challenging. Finding the right words can be difficult. This could be because you are graduating, retiring or for another occasion. You are supposed to list your experiences, thank everyone and express your best wishes for the future - all in a charming and pleasant way. This is not easy, but by thinking about it carefully you will be able to write a good goodbye speech.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Choosing what to say

1. Summarize your experiences. Think about the general experiences you have had in the place you are now leaving behind. It could be a job, a school, a volunteer position or a place where you have lived for a long time. Think about what you did there and how you would tell the story of your time there from beginning to end.
   • Try to write down the history of the time you spent here. Not everything has to be suitable for a speech. Simply write it down so that you remember everything you did and realize what means the most to you.
   • Your story may start with something like "I came here to work shortly after college and had never lived alone until then. I was so shy it took me nine months to make friends. A year later I was promoted and luckily got to know good friends in my new department ".
   • It's okay to write down things that were difficult. You can edit them later. You can add something like "I hated moving to a new office". When you edit the speech, you can turn it into a funny anecdote or simply say something like "Even when we had to move into the new office, I noticed how cheerful my colleagues remained in troubled times."
2. Add anecdotes of your choice. Once you have written a summary you can see if there are any anecdotes you remember about this place. An anecdote can be funny or moving, but it should be a short and specific story that paints a picture of everyday life while trying to share your general thoughts and feelings about it.
   • An anecdote might start with something like "I will never forget my third day at school." Mark and I had to sit side by side on the bus, but on the third day my grandmother followed me to the bus and demanded to exchange a word with Mark ... "
   • Anecdotes are a great way to express appreciation for a specific person or to show why you appreciate something about the place you are leaving. For example, the anecdote above might end with something like '... and of course he has never left my side since that day ...' or '... and that's how I knew that the school community would finally become a place where could feel '.
3. Have a chat about a serious or moving topic. Your speech is meant to be relatively light-hearted, but it is also good to take some time to reflect on what you have accomplished in this place and what you will miss. People will appreciate your thoughts on this, as will the fact that you share your feelings.
   • Think about the things you are grateful for or the moments that helped make you the way you are now. Make a note of something like "when John stood up for me in my freshman year in college" or "when the boss really brought my proposal up to the board of directors, realized my opinion really mattered".
   • Think about why you are sorry to leave. This could be something like 'I know that a group of people who take such care of each other is very hard to find' or 'I have learned so much from everyone here that it feels a shame to leave without bringing everyone along. can take '.
4. Add best wishes. Probably other people will stay despite you leaving. Wish the best for those who stay. Try to be sincere, but know it's okay to put in a joke or two as long as it isn't badly intended.
   • You can give best wishes to the group in general, such as "Of course I know you will finally reach the national league next year now that I am no longer on the team".
   • You can also give best wishes to individuals such as "Jane, I hope you will have an easy transition to become Vice President." I'm sure you will do well. And Richard, I wish you the best of luck in reshaping the entire department. "
   • You can also share hopes and wishes for yourself, such as "I don't know what's in store for me, but I already hope that I will be able to meet people like you".

Part 2 of 3: Writing your speech

1. Write an outline. Once you have collected material, it is time to organize this so that you have a smooth speech. A good way to do this is to write a draft. A format is a way of organizing your material so that it is arranged in a logical order that the listener or reader can easily follow.
   • Your setup can be as detailed as you want.
   • Your outline should consist of a beginning, the core of the speech and a short conclusion.
   • A draft does not contain the full text. It only has a few points with summaries of each part.
2. Start with something funny to break the ice. Speeches that start with a joke or something very witty will usually grab the attention of the audience. Especially in the case of a goodbye speech, the audience may expect something dry or heavy. Even if the occasion is a little solemn, try starting with something funny. This will create a good atmosphere and people will listen more closely to the rest of the speech.
   • Something to break the ice is, for example, a joke for insiders or a song that everyone in attendance will know and appreciate.
   • If one of the anecdotes you wrote down is particularly funny or witty, then you can start with that too.
   • Sometimes a quote or inspirational message will be a good place to start, but often it is better to keep it until the end.
3. Write the core. The core of your speech is where you share anecdotes and summarize your experiences there, if appropriate. You can tell stories about specific people and experiences or share more general feelings about the people and the place you leave behind.
   • When you generalize or summarize, remember to "demonstrate, not tell." This means that it is usually more powerful to be specific and give details and examples than to generalize.
   • An example of 'show, don't tell' is saying 'On my first day at work I noticed that half of the staff stayed half an hour longer to make sure all reports were ready' instead of 'Everyone here always works extra hard' .
4. Conclude with a quote or joke. The way you end the speech will probably be remembered for a long time once it is over. Decide if you want to end in a funny or serious way. If the speech has been mostly solemn, then a joke at the end can help bring things to a lighthearted conclusion. It can also make the tension disappear.
   • You can search online for quotes per subject. There are quotes for almost every occasion.
   • If you are particularly witty, you may end up with a hint related to the joke or anecdote you told at the beginning of your speech.
   • For example, if you started the speech with something like "I will never forget my first day here." I thought I was doomed when I got here and realized I was twenty minutes late, "then you might end up with something like," Well, I suppose my time is up. Look at that. Five years later and I'm still twenty minutes behind ".

Part 3 of 3: Making your speech

1. Recite the speech to yourself. Writing a speech is only one aspect of the entire presentation. You should also rehearse the speech out loud. The reason for this is because things that are written down do not always roll off the tongue easily.
   • Check out the parts that are confusing or don't sound smooth. Make notes or changes that will be helpful when you have to give the speech.
   • Time the speech when you recite it.
   • Recite the speech in front of a mirror so you can see how many times you can look up from your paper without losing track.
   • You can also practice your speech in front of a good friend and ask for feedback.
2. Keep the speech short. You may have a lot to say depending on your tenure in this place and the significance it has had for you. However, this speech is not the time to go into all sorts of details. Remember, people probably need to go back to work or do other things with their time. If you do it right, you can write a powerful speech that doesn't have to be long.
   • A goodbye speech should be about five minutes long. Ten minutes is also acceptable in some circumstances. Longer than that should be reserved for special occasions, such as when a head of state resigns.
3. Speak confidently. Many people get nervous when they have to talk to a large group of people. There are all kinds of tricks to cope with your nerves if you need to. Make sure you have rehearsed your speech many times and then prepare to face a large group of people.
   • Know that you can make a mistake. Prepared for this again. Don't be mad at yourself if this happens. Acknowledge it and keep going. You can even laugh at yourself to put the audience at ease.
   • Focus on people who seem to be connecting with your speech. When they nod, smile, or can't take their eyes off you, you need to focus on them. Their energy will give you confidence.

Tips

• Stay positive when in doubt. People will remember the positive feelings for a long time after you are gone.
• If you make fun of other people, you should make it clear that they are meant to be lighthearted and ensure that they cannot be taken as mean.